Gettysburg Seminary Advent Devotions 2015 Advent Week One Sunday, November 29 Jeremiah 33:14-16 O Righteous One, we begin our time of waiting focused on you. Give us such faith that we can confidently and gracefully work for justice and righteousness in the land. Let us find health and safety in the pursuit of peace, that we use our time of waiting to show the world what our God has always intended for us. Amen. The Rev. John Spangler, Executive Assistant to the President for Communication and Planning

Monday, November 30 Psalm 90 Holy creator, thank you for the gift of life. We pray for strength and courage for those who face inequality and adversity. Thank you for your son Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen. Erin Marie Burns, Student, Northeast Ohio Synod

Tuesday, December 1 2 Samuel 7:18-29 Welcoming God, you built a house for your servant, David and blessed it forever. You sent us a baby who was born not in a house but in a manger among the animals. During this time of waiting, let us welcome those in our society lacking a place to lay their heads. Amen. David Larrabee, Student, Metropolitan D.C. Synod; Director, The Lamb Center

Wednesday, December 2 Luke 11:29-32 Loving God, in this season of anticipation, teach us to look for the signs that you place before us that will guide us to your light. Help us to be open to the wonder of that for which we wait. Amen. April Trout, Student, Lower Susquehanna Synod

Thursday, December 3 Luke 1:68-79 O God, in these times of fear and anxiety; natural disasters and destruction by human hands, you remember us. Help us to remember your light in our world, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who engaged in our world and gave us hope and peace. Amen. The Rev. Dr. Nelson T. Strobert, Professor Emeritus of Christian Education, Upper Susquehanna Synod

Friday, December 4 Malachi 3:13-18 Gracious God, in fervent hope we await the approaching days which lead us to the celebration of the birth of your blessed child. Your son Jesus is the greatest gift for the world. We pray that our faithful lives bear witness, to our neighbors near and far, the grace you bestow on all people. Amen. Christine Roe, Student, Intern, Greater Milwaukee Synod

Saturday, December 5 Luke 9:1-6 Holy God, we pray for your continued presence and guidance through our Advent journey as we proclaim the Gospel and your love to all people through word and deed. May we be nourished and strengthened at this table, and by your Holy Spirit, through the gifts you have blessed us with this day. Draw us closer to you, and to one another, as we await the arrival of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Tyler Graham, Student, Allegheny Synod

Advent Week Two Sunday, December 6 Malachi 3:1-4 Lord, prepare us to receive you as you enter the temples in which we worship you. We await the transformation you shall bring: a cleansing of our hearts and minds. Make our prayers to you to be pure and righteous. Amen. The Rev. Dr. Leonard Hummel, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care, and Director of Clinical Pastoral Education, Delaware-Maryland Synod

Monday, December 7 Psalm 126 Holy God, we praise your name with shouts of joy! We ask for your presence to fill our lives in times filled with laughter and moments of weeping. Thank you for all the great things you have done for us. In your name we pray, Amen. Ellen Lundie, Student, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod

Tuesday, December 8 Isaiah 19:18-25 God of all nations, you set a table before the world. Grant that all may be fed by your grace, and nourish us with your love. In the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen. Joseph Graumann, Student, New Jersey Synod

Wednesday, December 9 Luke 7:18-30 Compassionate God, Just as John the Baptist needed reassurance that his faith was not misplaced, we too have similar times when we long to have our faith con-firmed. May our study of the Word during this season of Advent bring us closer to you and to the peace our hearts desire. Thank you for sending the one who is the answer to our prayers. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen. The Rev Cinda Brucker, Alumni Association Board; Pastor, Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Hughesville, PA, Upper Susquehanna Synod

Thursday, December 10 Isaiah 12:2-6 O Lord, you are our strength and our redeemer. During this season of waiting, help us to trust you and to not be afraid. Let us shout and sing your praises as we celebrate the light of Christ while we await his coming. Lord, in your name we pray. Amen. Amanda McCaffery, Student, Delaware-Maryland Synod

Friday, December 11 Amos 8:4-12 Blessed are you, gracious and redeeming God, creator and sustainer of the universe. Give us the wisdom to look past our pride and our comforts and give us the strength and courage to grieve and act for those who are oppressed, marginalized, and suffer any kind of injustice. Amen. R. Avery Carr, Student, Virginia Synod

Saturday, December 12 Luke 1:57-66 God of giving – as we live in this season of anticipation help us to be mindful of one another. Enable and empower us to share the abundant blessings that you have bestowed upon us. We long for you, pray for your coming, and glorify you, trusting in your promise, mercy, and love. Amen. Ariel Williams, Student, Southwestern Texas Synod

Advent Week Three Sunday, December 13 Zephaniah 3:14-20 O Restorer of fortunes, we give you thanks that you are in our midst today. Help us to see the ways you are already transforming disaster into victory, shame into praise, and crying into singing. Send us into the world, nourished by Word and Sacrament, to bear this good news as we continue to watch and wait for your coming among us. With Advent hope we pray in the name of your Son. Amen. The Rev. Jason Felici, Alumni Association Board; Pastor, Mountain Lutheran Parish, Franklin, WV, West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod

Monday, December 14 Isaiah 11:1-9 Gracious God, we thank you that you sent your son Jesus not to condemn, but to be a righteous and merciful judge to save us from our sins. We pray for the day you have promised when the wolf and lamb will lay down together, and we will no longer hurt or destroy. Let your Holy Spirit flow in us that we, being claimed by you through Christ, might glorify you by spreading peace and love to our neighbors. Amen. Nicole Lee Miller, Student, Presbyterian Church (USA)

Tuesday, December 15 Numbers 16:20-35 God of justice, we pray for your mercy in the face of our sinfulness. Prepare our hearts and minds to be open to your will for us in the world. Bless this day’s food and those who have helped to bring it to this table. Amen. Adam Buff, Student, North Carolina Synod

Wednesday, December 16 Luke 7:31-35 O Coming One, we wait in hope for a promise beyond all our small dreams and petty expectations. In wisdom you have called us to you, in confidence we call on you to come to us in ways that support our strivings and that help us meet the challenge of the gospel. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. The Rev. Dr. Maria Erling, Professor of Modern Church History and Global Missions and Director of Ministry in Practice, Lower Susquehanna Synod

Thursday, December 17 Psalm 80:1-7 Dear Father, during this Advent season we look forward to the birth of your Son. Renew our hearts and minds so we can truly see Him and welcome Him. Shepherd of Israel, please lead us during this season and let your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. Amen. Robert J. King, Seminary Board of Directors, Upper Susquehanna Synod

Friday, December 18 Isaiah 42:10-18 Luminous God, your Spirit constantly sings joy and light into our lives. As we await the birth of our Greatest Light, guide us to sing a new song for His coming. Lift our voices to praise your guiding presence in our world, and as we weep in the desert, or radiate from the mountaintop, remind us to spread your song of love and justice in all our days. Above all, we pray that the joy of Jesus’ birth resonates over all of the seasonal sounds that distract from your love. In Jesus’ joyous name we pray, Amen. Sarah Wright, Student, Delaware-Maryland Synod

Saturday, December 19 Luke 13:31-35 O God, in the anticipation of your Son’s coming, help us to cease our inner restlessness and toil, which overwhelms us during this time of year. Turn our laments into praise, our sorrow into joy and our love for you, into action, which glorifies you and the gift of your Son, Jesus. Amen. Susan Salomone, Student, Upstate New York Synod

Advent Week Three Sunday, December 20 Micah 5:2-5a Thank you, most gracious God, for little things: for simple pleasures, fleeting smiles, ordinary meals. Open our eyes to your presence in unremarkable moments, fill us with gratitude for everyday blessings, and enter our lives through the commonplace as well as the extraordinary. We pray through the one willing to be born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Rev. Mark Oldenburg, Dean of the Chapel and Steck-Miller Professor of the Art of Worship, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod

Monday, December 21 Psalm 113 We give you praise all the day long, O Lord our God for the gift of your love. You lift us up from the lowest places and seat us in the highest places at your table with the princes of your people. You fill us with the joy of the gift of your own Son who comes to save us from the ash heaps of our lives, so that we can live with you forevermore. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen. Pamela Illick, Student, Delaware-Maryland Synod

Tuesday, December 22 Ephesians 2:11-22 Dear Lord Jesus, there are days when we feel as if we don’t quite belong anywhere. Thank you for this reminder that we are truly citizens of your household! You have reconciled us to God and to one another. As we observe your advent, help us to recognize others as family you have given us, no longer strangers, but family. Amen. Barbara Morgan Oshlo, Student, Nebraska Synod

Wedesday, December 23 2 Peter 1:16-21 Lord, your everlasting voice resonates down the mountain and echoes in the cavern of our hearts even today. We thank you for those bearing witness, the mountain guides of faith, who through their embrace of the Holy Spirit, have helped lead us to you. Make us faithful witnesses of your beloved Son; may we listen with space in our hearts and proclaim the joy of your Gospel across the dark valleys of life. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Joshua W. Gyson, Student, Florida-Bahamas Synod

Thursday, December 24 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Lord Jesus Christ, you come to us in many and various ways. You make yourself known to us – through your Word and even as an infant child. Help us to treasure all that we have heard and seen and quietly ponder these things within our own hearts. Amen. The Rev. Sandra J. Kessinger, Seminary Board of Directors; Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, McLean, VA, Metropolitan D.C. Synod

Friday, December 25 John 1:1-14 O Most Holy God, At Christmas you gave us a baby – and so much more! You gave us the salvation of the whole world. You gave us the eternal Light amidst much darkness that surrounds us. You gave us hope in a time when many despair. You gave us a way forward when all pathways seemed to be dead-ends. You inspire us to work for justice when so many in our world deserve a greater measure. And now you offer us the same mission the angels gave the shepherds: To go and see and then tell others. You call us to share our gifts, as did the Magi with the newborn Jesus. The Lord has come! Amen and amen. The Rev. Michael Cooper-White, D.D., 12th and current President of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg